Smitty21 Posted May 10, 2021 Report Share Posted May 10, 2021 This weekend I changed the alternator on my wife 2017 Journey. While I was at it I changed the battery as well. Everything went perfect! Took it around the block and it run great. This morning on the way to work her Lightening Bolt come on (Electronic Throttle Control). After reading numerous comments about having to have it reset after a Battery Alternator switch, I figured I'd come here to see if anyone knew such a way to do it rather than having it towed to the dealer. They are making it to where you cannot work on your own car anymore. Hopefully someone has a pedal hack for this!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5rebel9 Posted May 10, 2021 Report Share Posted May 10, 2021 (edited) My, a lot of work for giving no background as to WHY all this was done. If you did all this to try and turn out the "lightning bolt" light.....well that is a outright warning light for the THROTTLE BODY. What motor size and did you have it scanned for OBD11 codes? And check the electrical connections to the throttle body. Edited May 10, 2021 by 5rebel9 jkeaton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitty21 Posted May 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2021 Hi Rebel... the alternator was bad, so while I was replacing it I decided to go ahead and replace the battery and the belt. Just so I didn't have to come back to it 6 months from now. The ECU light was not in prior to replacing these items. After reading of problems with the ECU after chasing the battery i figured i would come here to see if anyone knew of a way to reset it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5rebel9 Posted May 10, 2021 Report Share Posted May 10, 2021 There is no "reset" for when the Throttle control light comes on. It means something has gone amiss in the throttle body. I take it you have the 2.4 4 cyl. engine? Not knowing how many miles on the DJ, many times checking and cleaning the TB and making sure all hoses and electrical hook ups are good will turn that light out by itself. I don't know of any other way possible for that to be extinguished, as that warning light is a "stand alone" warning light of problem for that specific item. The TB is known to wear(multiple gear driven throttle butterfly actuator) and cause the light to come on. It would not hurt to have even an Autozone type parts store do a free scan for you just to be sure nothing is "lurking" in computer memory that would indicate troubles. 2late4u, jkeaton and NavalLacrosse 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitty21 Posted May 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2021 Sorry, yes it's the 2.4 liter motor. I called my local Chrysler dealer about it. They said that on some vehicles the ECU would have to be reset by computer after a replacement of the battery and/or alternator. They do it by computer. He suggested I come to a forum to see if anyone had figured out an hack. Thank you for replying to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5rebel9 Posted May 10, 2021 Report Share Posted May 10, 2021 3 minutes ago, Smitty21 said: Sorry, yes it's the 2.4 liter motor. I called my local Chrysler dealer about it. They said that on some vehicles the ECU would have to be reset by computer after a replacement of the battery and/or alternator. They do it by computer. He suggested I come to a forum to see if anyone had figured out an hack. Thank you for replying to me! Well there is the old "standby" of disconnecting the Negative wire from the jumper post on the drivers front strut tower for 10-15 minutes and then hooking back up. But I don't think this is the needed "fix" to the light problem. Good Luck and let us know how you get this "worked out". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John/Horace Posted May 11, 2021 Report Share Posted May 11, 2021 Grab terminal connections on top of battery with a glove and try and turn them, if they move they aren’t tight enough? You didn’t accidentally arc out battery cables during the install, would generate a lot of sparks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted May 11, 2021 Report Share Posted May 11, 2021 22 hours ago, Smitty21 said: Sorry, yes it's the 2.4 liter motor. I called my local Chrysler dealer about it. They said that on some vehicles the ECU would have to be reset by computer after a replacement of the battery and/or alternator. They do it by computer. He suggested I come to a forum to see if anyone had figured out an hack. Thank you for replying to me! never heard that about reset after replacing a battery or alt, also the rebel is right about the TB on the 2.4 i have read about it over on the patroit blog as that is the engine my daughter has in her mail vech. and a lot of TB being replaced due to that problem, i would replace it if i was you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryl Posted May 11, 2021 Report Share Posted May 11, 2021 Never heard of a reset either...I would assume the reset would take place after it was powered down for battery and alternator replacement ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John/Horace Posted May 11, 2021 Report Share Posted May 11, 2021 I’ve replaced alternator and battery on several Journey vehicles. All plug and play, alternator does adjust output but it does it on its own without programming.There is a switch at negative terminal wiring that probably communicates with ecm. When alternator died Journey was driven for several miles until car shut itself off completely with dash lite up like Christmas tree with voltage warning, alternator and low battery symbols. Battery recharged and dealer rebuilt alternator put in by me, zero issues on start up, no warnings or issues since. Factory alternator is made by Denso on 3.6 engine, one of the better manufacturers of car parts. Lexus and Acura use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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